Wes Anderson – Asteroid City: Exhibition at 180 Studios

The release of a Wes Anderson film has increasingly outgrown mere cinephilic interest: it’s become a cultural event, tapping into a kind of zeitgeist that calls for neat colour palettes and even neater visual symmetry. The “Wes Anderson TikTok trend”, whose popularity ballooned recently as the marketing engine of Asteroid City began to rev, has crystalised this fact in many people’s minds, as even the most casual cultural observer has come to recognise and identify the auteur’s signature aesthetic. 

180 Studios, which stands at the heart of central London’s Strand, is the scene of an almost ritualistic communion of Anderson acolytes – from the casual to the fervent – with the venue showcasing the meticulous craft behind the director’s singular vision, stretching back to 2018’s Isle Of Dogs. With the release of Asteroid City, 180 Studios once again collate a handpicked assemblage of original props, costumes and dustbowl sets, which have made their way from Anderson’s mind to London’s Strand, via the film’s Spanish production locations. While the director himself, during a pre-recorded introduction to the exhibition, admits that the big screen is the best place to experience the world of the film’s eponymous, pastel-drenched city, the London location is close runner-up. 

At the culmination of the tour, attendees are able to wind down from the sensory delicacy in the Asteroid City cafe – a copybook immersive recreation of the town’s own diner. There, guests can enjoy cheese toasties and coffee presented with nostalgic, retro flair. Exclusive merchandise will also be available to purchase, including posters, T-shirts, totes and even a limited edition vinyl to cap an immersive, retro-futuristic experience born out of the mind of one of the 21^st century’s most aesthetically innovative artists.  

Matthew McMillan

Wes Anderson – Asteroid City: Exhibition is on at 180 Studios from 23^rd June until 8^th July 2023. For further information or to book visit the exhibition’s website here.

Asteroid City is released nationwide on 23^rd June 2023. Read our review here.

Watch the trailer for Asteroid City here: